Host range varies widely among species of parasitic plants. Parasitic plants realize host
selection through induction by chemical molecular signals, including germination stimulants …

Background–Parasitic plants are functionally specialized to acquire at least some essential
resources from other plants via specialized organs called haustoria. Parasitism evolved 12 …

In this review we will discuss three main areas of research in plant–parasitic plant
interactions. In the first section, we will deal with the physiology and biochemistry of the plant …

Plants are in constant communication with a multitude of diverse organisms. Some
symbioses, such as the association of nitrogen-fixing bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi with …

Parasitic plants share a common anatomical feature, the haustorium. Haustoria enable both
infection and nutrient transfer, which often leads to growth penalties for host plants and yield …

Perhaps the most obvious phenotypes associated with chemical signaling between plants
are manifested by parasitic species of Orobanchaceae. The development of haustoria …

In contrast to most autotrophic plants, which produce carbohydrates from carbon dioxide
using photosynthesis, parasitic plants obtain water and nutrients by parasitizing host plants …

Highlights•Plant parasites attach to host plants and penetrate them by haustoria.•They thieve
water, solutes and carbohydrates by mimicking an attractive sink for the host.•In most cases …

Parasitic plants are usually considered as botanical curiosities because of their shapes and
colours. However, in some cases, they are proving to be terrible bioagressors in man-made …

Parasitic plants pose a major biotic threat to plant growth and development and lead to
losses in crop productivity of billions of USD annually. By comparison with “normal” …